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There was no way to know the ground-breaking impact musicians John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, Tampa Red, Big Bill Broonzy and others would have when they sat down to record their incredible sound at the Leland Hotel in downtown Aurora in the 1930s. As soon as those guitar strings were plucked and their soulful voices filled the air, everything we knew about blues was changed forever, and Blues on the Fox celebrates that monumental piece of history. For 21 years, blues musicians from across the world have gathered in Aurora to play their hearts out to blues-loving crowds in the thousands, and this year’s lineup is sure to get your head swaying and feet grooving. FRIDAY, JUNE 16 Gates open 6 p.m. Tickets per day: $10 through May 31; $20 starting June 1 Shemekia Copeland: 7 p.m. “She roars with a sizzling hot intensity,” raves The Boston Globe. She has a “gale force singing and power” writes the Chicago Tribune. NPR says she’s “fiercely expressive.” She’s Shemekia Copeland, a musical force to be reckoned with. Growing up with her bluesman father, Johnny Clyde Copeland, Shemekia always knew she wanted to sing, but it wasn’t until she was 16 when she began opening for her father that her explosive voice began blowing audiences away. Since then, she’s been nominated for 3 Grammys and has been a mainstay on the blues circuit. She’s sung with legends like B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and opened for The Rolling Stones. Even if she quit music today, Shemekia would leave behind a remarkable résumé. But she’s not. She’s just getting warmed up and has her sights set on a trailblazing future. Mavis Staples: 9 p.m. Talk about a living legend. Mavis Staples has seen and done it all, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to hang up the microphone. Not even close. Grammy Award-winner Mavis Staples – yes, the one who turned down a marriage proposal from Bob Dylan – was born right here in Chicago and began singing with her family at local churches in 1950 when she was just a little girl. Now, 67 years later, Mavis is still belting out those eye-watering, jaw-dropping gospel and blues notes that made her a star enormously respected by her peers: Ice Cube and Ludacris have sampled her vocals, and she recently sang with Arcade Fire. When you think about the best freedom songs of the 20th century, Mavis is right there near the top of the list with “Down in Mississippi” and “I’ll Take You There.” And with a recent Presidential Medal of Freedom and Kennedy Center Honors, she is hotter than ever. SATURDAY, JUNE 17 Gates open 2 p.m. Tickets per day: $10 through May 31; $20 starting June 1 Guy King Band: 3 p.m. If you’re looking for that classic jazz sound of yesteryear fused with a fresh spin that’s all his own, look no further than Guy King. Guy first came to the U.S. from Israel on tour at the age of 16 before later heading to Chicago and joining the band of legendary Willie Kent. In 2006, Guy began his own incredible solo career performing at House of Blues, Buddy Guy’s Legends and more. Guy’s own mind-blowing brand of blues, jazz, soul and R&B makes his amazing performances stand miles above the rest. His passion for music is so great that when growing up in a small village in Israel, he had to travel for hours to get to a record store in Tel Aviv. When they didn’t have the Albert King record he wanted, he placed an order for it and had to do the whole trip again a month later. While those days are over, Guy’s love for music and jazz has only grown, cementing him as a world-class musician that needs to be seen to be believed. Devon Allman: 5 p.m. He might share the same last name as his famous dad and uncle, but Devon Allman is his own musician – and an amazing one at that. Devon first picked up the guitar when he was a teenager and hasn’t put it down since. Instead of his name, Devon used his voice and incredible songwriting skills to break into the business, and what started as playing in local bands and working in a Guitar Center has skyrocketed into a critically-acclaimed career-hailed as “powerful” and “soulful.” With his own band behind him, Devon uses his custom blend of blues and rock to deliver a show that will leave you electrified and excited for what this son of musical royalty will do next. While you might hear echoes of his dad, Allman delivers a thoroughly unique sound that is all his own. Elvin Bishop: 7 p.m. Having been inducted into not only the Blues Hall of Fame, but the Rock and Roll of Fame, Grammy nominee Elvin Bishop knows a little something about music, and he’s going to give a lesson impossible to forget. It’s all right here: “Fooled Around and Fell in Love,” “Let It Flow” and so much more. This is the man who sat in with the Grateful Dead, co-billed a series of concerts with The Allman Brothers Band and had one of his songs featured on the smash soundtrack to “Guardians of the Galaxy,” proving that his music has a timeless quality that attracts new and old listeners alike. Elvin’s musical career began in 1963 when he met Paul Butterfield and joined his blues band. For five years, they played together until he left to form The Elvin Bishop Group. Over the years, he’s released more than 20 incredible albums. His last studio album “Can’t Even Do Wrong Right” dropped in 2014. Watching Elvin play is like getting your own private lesson in what it takes to be an outstanding musician, and this is one class you won’t want to skip. Jonny Lang: 9 p.m. Jonny was only 12-years-old when he first picked up a guitar. He must have felt a spark when he touched it, because what he’s produced since is nothing short of stunning. All you need to do is look at his five albums that have charted on the Billboard 200 and his two Grammy nominations, including a win for his 2007 album Turn Around. Jonny shreds with his brand of blues, gospel, pop, R&B and rock, then he uses his smooth, soulful voice to tug at your heart, soul and mind. If you’ve never heard Jonny play, you’re missing out on one of the most unique talents of his generation. He’s a performer living up to the legends who inspired him and making his own mark on musical history.